Chapter 24
Zoe
My shirt clings to my back. Each time I try to pull the fabric away, it seems to adhere to the sweat even more. I feel disgusting after moving the things from my apartment into Riggs’ house. No. Our house. It’s hard to get used to the fact that this place is mine too. It’s huge, far more extravagant than anywhere I’ve ever lived before.
All of my things are currently piled in the bedroom or the game room. I don’t have a ton of stuff, but I’m struggling to find a place for everything. Tears burn my eyes as I take in our bedroom. It’s masculine, decorated in dark gray and white. My hot pink comforter not only doesn’t match the décor, but it fits a full-sized bed, not a king like in here. It’s just another reminder on the long list of how I don’t belong.
My things seem girly and childish compared to Riggs’ more masculine and streamlined style. He has a large walk-in closet, but there’s not enough room to hang my dresses next to his suits. There isn’t even a drawer available for my underwear. This is all too overwhelming.
I plop onto my butt, hugging my knees to my chest. Is this some sort of sign that I don’t fit into Riggs’ life? I certainly don’t fit in his closet. Unable to keep from crying, I drop my head onto my knees.
This is how Riggs finds me.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” He drops to his knees next to me, pulling me into a hug. For some reason, his concern makes me cry harder.
“I. . . d. . . d. . . don’t. . . fff. . . ffiittt.” I can barely get out my words between hiccups.
He cups my chin, forcing me to make eye contact. “What are you saying?”
I wave my arm at the pile of hang up clothes I dropped on the floor.
He takes in his full closet and stands. “You fit,” he says, firmly. He grabs a few suits and tears them off their hangers, tossing them out of the closet. After he’s made headway there, he starts in on his jeans.
“Riggs! What are you doing?”
“I’m making room for your things. I don’t need all this stuff.”
“Stop. You can’t get rid of all your clothes.”
“I’m not getting rid of them. They can go into the guest room closet.” He drops to his knees in front of me, placing his hands on my thighs. “Baby, if it means making you happy, I’ll give up everything in here to make space for you. All I want is for you to know this is exactly where you belong. With me.”
This time my tears are not from sadness. They’re because he’s the sweetest man in the world. I throw my arms around him. “I’m sorry I was so emotional. It’s just hard to find a place for my things when everything in this house is so. . . so you.”
He pulls out his phone and types a message to someone. When he’s finished, he tucks it back into his pocket. “There. Indira will be here Thursday to meet with you about redecorating the house. You can do whatever you want. Just don’t change the layout of the kitchen. My chef is a little territorial and will be pissed if we mess with his domain.”
“That’s not necessary.” He’s not serious, is he?
“Oh, it’s very necessary,” he whispers, trailing his lips along my neck as he encourages me to lie back.
He stretches the neck of my t-shirt aside and kisses a trail down the center of my chest. I gasp when he snakes his tongue out to lick the bead of sweat from between my boobs.
“Riggs! I’m all sweaty.”
He pulls back, grinning. “I like a little salt on my food.”
“We can’t do anything until I shower.”
He goes back to kissing and licking my chest as he pushes my t-shirt up. Once it’s cleared my bra, he moves down to my stomach and resumes his licking. He pushes my shirt and bra up high enough he can suck one of my nipples into his mouth.
I moan as I buck against him, my pulsing clit desperate for relief.
“Daddy,” Calla calls, stepping into the bedroom. “Are you back here?”
Riggs jumps off me, grabbing one of his suits from the floor and holding it in front of the obvious bulge in his jeans. “Back here, honey,” he calls, stepping out of the closet.
I yank down my shirt and bra, hoping I don’t look like I was getting busy with her dad, and follow him out of the closet.
“Am I interrupting?” If I wasn’t so embarrassed, it would be funny the way her eyebrows are raised to the middle of her forehead and how I can see the whites of her eyes all the way around her irises.
Riggs shakes his head. “No. We were just trying to make space for Zoe’s clothes in the closet.”
She nods. “Good. It’s time you got rid of some of that crap.” She turns to me. “I swear my dad has every outfit he’s owned since 2002!”
I snicker because she’s not wrong. There are a lot of ‘vintage’ items in there.
Riggs swats at her with the suit he’s holding. “Hey, now. That’s no way to talk to the guy you’re about to ask for a favor.”
She bats her long eyelashes at him. “How do you know I need something?” Calla really is a pretty girl. I wonder what her mom looks like and if she takes after her.
Riggs chuckles. “You’re here with no warning, and we have dinner plans the day after tomorrow. There’s no way you’re only stopping by for a visit.”
She gives him a guilty smile. “You got me. I need $2,000 for my sorority formal. I have nothing to wear.”
My eyes bug out of my head. My formal dress was less than $100. Who needs that much money for a dress? It’s a month’s rent.
Riggs frowns. “You got your allowance last week. What happened to all that money?”
She holds up her hands. “I need it for expenses. We’re going to Austin for our formal. I have a hotel room and travel expenses to cover.”
“Calla,” he scolds. “You get $6,000 a month. That should cover everything you could possibly need and leave you money to put into your savings.”
My mouth drops. Holy shit. That’s almost more money than I get all year from my mom for expenses.
She juts out her lower lip, pouting. “Daddy, don’t be silly. You can afford it.”
He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “Zoe and I will discuss it.”
Calla shoots me a dirty look. “Why does she get a say?” The venom in her voice is so potent I’m surprised I don’t drop dead on the spot.
“She’s my wife. I won’t give you money or buy things without discussing it with her first.”
“But it’s your money,” Calla argues in a way that says she thinks it’s also part hers.
“No, honey. It’s our money. Mine and Zoe’s.” He gestures between me and him. “We discuss expenses over $500 and decide what to do together.”
We do? Hmm. Interesting. He didn’t ask me about redecorating the bedroom, and I’m sure that’s way more than $500. Not that I mind. He can do whatever he wants. Calla’s right. It’s his money.
“Since when?” Calla stomps her foot, seeming more like a toddler than the spoiled college student she is.
“Since last Friday.” His voice is firm.
I slowly step backwards until I’m in the closet. I can still hear everything she says, but at least I don’t have a front-row seat for their argument. This isn’t something that includes me.
“I can’t believe you’re choosing that gold digger over me! I’m your daughter!” she hisses.
“Calla, stop. You will not disrespect Zoe. Ever.” His tone is so stern it’s downright scary. I don’t ever want him to use it on me. He sort of reminds me of Stone right now. Calm and foreboding.
“Daddy,” she whines.
“No. I’ve given you everything you’ve ever wanted, but that ends now. Obviously, your mother and I have spoiled you too much. I think it’s time you get a part-time job and start covering your sorority expenses.”
I cringe. That’s definitely not earning me any points with Calla.
She stomps her foot so loudly I can hear it from inside the closet. “But Daddy, you said I didn’t have to get a job if I’m in school. College is my job.”
“And I pay for that. But if you come into our house demanding things and telling me six grand a month isn’t enough, we will have problems.”
“Sometimes I hate you,” she cries.
“Calla–“
“No. You’ve made it clear you love her more than me.” The bedroom door slams.
I gasp, covering my hand with my mouth.
Riggs steps into the closet. “You can come out now.”
“You need to go after her.”
He shakes his head. “She’ll be fine. She didn’t mean any of what she said.” The frown on his face tells me he believes otherwise.
“I lost my dad at sixteen. I can’t be the reason Calla loses hers.” I couldn’t live with myself if Riggs lost his daughter because of me.
“She’s not going to lose me. That girl is just like her mother. She fights dirty, but she’ll come around.”
“Why did you tell her you need to talk to me about the money?” Doesn’t he see that was a bad idea?
“Because I do. I can’t just give away money like that without discussing it with you first.”
“But it’s not mine,” I argue.
He holds out his arms. “Everything I have is yours. That’s what being married means.”
“Riggs, I appreciate your feelings. I really do, but if you keep telling people that, they really will think I’m a gold digger.”
He puts his hands on my waist, pulling my hips flush with his. “Did you marry me for my money?”
I shake my head no. “I didn’t even realize you had so much.”
“Exactly. So, stop worrying.” He tilts my chin up, then lowers his lips to mine.
His kiss makes me forget all about money, his argument with Calla, and everything else from the outside world.